Dobby.



G. J. PFEIFFER.

DOBBY.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 25, 1914.

Patented Mar. 7, 1916.

UNITED fiTATEfi Pei GEORGE J. PIEEIFFER, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, ASSIGNOR TO CEOMPTGN 8r. KNOWLES LOOM VJOBKS, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

noBBY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 2, 1916.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE J. Pr'nirrnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Providence in the county of Providence and tate of Rhode Island, have invented a new and useful Dobby, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a dobby and particularly to a dobby in which a plurality of indicating fingers control the operations of the harnesses. These fingers are usually formed from cast metal and are frequently broken while in use. The replacement of a broken finger under the usual conditions requires a considerable expenditure of both time and labor, as substantially the entire set of fingers must often be released from operative position before -a broken finger can be removed and replaced.

Accordingly, one feature of my invention consists in the provision of improved devices for supporting the indicating fingers, so constructed that any finger can be removed and replaced without displacing any other finger or the support therefor. A

somewhat similar inconvenience arises in theoperation of the ordinary dobby whenever it is necessary to replace the guiding rack which positions and separates the operating ends of the indicating fingers. The replacement of this rack ordinarily involves the release of all of the indicating fingers of both sets from operative position and their subsequent repositioning.

A further feature of my invention consists therefore in the provision of an improved construction of guiding rack involving the use of a separate guiding member for each set of fingers, each member being removable and replaceable independently of the other member.

My invention further consists in certain devices, arrangements and combinations of parts which will be hereafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

A preferred form of my invention is shown in the drawings in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a dobby showing my improved device applied thereto; and Fig. 2 is a partial end elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 1.

The numeral 10 indicates a portion of the supporting frame of a dobby upon which a plurality of indicating fingers 11 and 12 are pivotally mounted. In order that any one of these fingers may be readily removed and replaced without disturbing the remaining fingers I provide a substantially semicircular recess 13 in the lower edge of each finger, so positioned as to cooperate with the transversely extending cylindrical bar let secured in the frame 10. A transverse rod 15 is also detachably secured in the frame 10 and serves to prevent accidental upward displacement of the indicating fingers. l Vith this construction it will be evident that, when the rod 15 is in operative position, the fingers are securely held in the dobby and are at the same time free to move about the bar 1% as center. l Vhen the bar 15 is removed, the fingers 11 and 12 will remain in their normal operative positions and any one of them may at the same time be readily removed by simply lifting it off of the bar 14. The replacement of any one of the fingers 11 and 12 thus becomes an exceedingly simple operation and the expenditure of time and labor involved therein is reduced to a minimum.

The'fingers 11, which may be designated as straight indicating fingers, cooperate with lifting rods 16 which control the upper hooks of the dobby, (not shown). The fingers 12 have their operating ends upturned and serve to control the lower hooks of the dobby (not shown). In order that each fin ger may be held in transverse alinement with its respective lifting rod or hook it is necessary that a guiding rack be provided for positioning the fingers. These racks are commonly formed of cast metal and are sub ject to occasional accidental breakage. it has been customary to form the entire guiding structure for the full set of fingers as a single member and with this construction it will be evident that in case of breakage it is necessary to remove the entire rack and to release all of the indicating fingers from their operative position. It is then a matter of considerable labor after the new rack is in place, to correctly insert and position the large number of fingers ordinarily used.

To avoid the disadvantages above referred to I have formed the guiding rack in my improved dobby in two parts 17 and 18. The lower member is detachably secured to the under side of a portion of the supporting frame 10 by screws 19 and contains a plurality of separate open compartments 20 CJI which are adapted to receive and position the operating ends of the fingers 11. These compartments are formed by bars 21 which are secured at their upper andlower ends to transverse bars 22 and 23. The upper bar 28 serves to retain the fingers in position when the lifting rod'16 is removed and it also serves as one of the guides for the lifting rods 16. The rods 16 also extend be tween the bars 21 which act as guides upon two sides and a rod 24; constitutes a guide for the lifter rods upon the fourth side and opposite the bar 23. The upper member 18 of the guiding rack is detachably secured to the upper portion of the frame 10 by screws 25 and comprises a transversely extending bar 26 having a plurality of members 27 depending therefrom and serving'to transversely posltion the up-turned ends of the fingers 12. In order to preserve the alter- .nate arrangement of the fingers 11 and 12 the depending members 27 are arranged substantially vertical over the compartmentsl20 of the lower guiding member 17. With this construction it will be evident that either guiding member 17 or 18 maybe removed and replaced without disturbing the adjustment of the other guiding member or ofthe indicating fingers positioned thereby.

Having thus described my invention it will be evident that changes and modifications can be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope thereof and I do not wish to be and a second rod detachably mounted insaid 7 frame, overlying said fingers, and preventing displacement or removal thereof so long as said rod is in position but permitting separate removal of each finger after the rod is withdrawnfrom operative position.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

enonen J. rrnirrnn Witnesses:

ALBERT V]. More, J11, FRANK L. HowLANu.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner or. Patents.

Washington, D. G. 

